The latest Domain Statistics Report for December highlighted a significant trend as more Nigerians and local businesses are increasingly securing online identities with the .ng domain.

According to the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), the December figures of 10,046 reflected a robust commitment to the local Internet ecosystem, showing that momentum for digital presence remains strong.

NiRA observed that the new data revealed a healthy balance between new entrants into the digital space and existing users maintaining their online presence.

“A total of 10,047 new domains were registered during the month, showcasing a strong New Year, new goals mindset among entrepreneurs and organisations. 5,816 domains were renewed, indicating that established brands continue to see the value and trust associated with the .ng extension,” it stated.

Breaking down the adoption trends, the report highlighted a clear preference in how different segments of the market choose to identify themselves online.

For instance, the 3rd level domains (such as .com.ng or .org.ng) continued to be the primary driver of growth, accounting for 8,354 new registrations last December. This trend suggested that startups, SMEs, and individuals find these extensions highly accessible and effective for establishing a localised digital footprint.

While third-level domains lead in volume, the second-level domains (direct .ng) showed a high level of stickiness. Interestingly, renewals for 2nd-level domains (1,928) exceeded new registrations (1,693) for the month, suggesting that corporate entities and premium brands prioritise retaining these high-value digital assets.

NiRA president, Adesola Akinsanya, said the surge to over 10,000 new registrations in a single month is a testament to the growing confidence in Nigeria’s digital economy. “As we move into the New Year, the .ng domain remains more than just an address; it is a symbol of Nigerian pride and a gateway to the global marketplace,” he stressed.

On 2026 trends for the DNS industry, Akinsanya said, firstly, there will be a shift away from Generic TLDs. He noted that while generic domains like .com and .net remain popular, they are increasingly saturated and costly.

He noted that businesses are now choosing local domain extensions that better reflect identity, purpose, and location, making domains more meaningful and brand-aligned.

Secondly, he said ccTLDs are stronger for local branding. According to him, country-code top-level domains are gaining relevance as trusted signals of local presence and credibility, saying businesses targeting national or regional markets increasingly prefer ccTLDs to connect more authentically with their audiences.

Thirdly, Akinsanya observed that AI-powered domain discovery is now standard. He said AI tools are transforming how domains are discovered, helping users find available names based on brand identity, audience, industry, and SEO relevance, saving time and uncovering better naming options.

Fourthly, the NiRA president sees a stronger focus on DNS security and privacy.According to him, the DNS industry is prioritising security through DNSSEC adoption, encrypted DNS protocols (DoH and DoT), AI-driven threat detection, and exploration of blockchain for secure ownership records.